Ariel Sharon leaves his party
After 30 years in party he helped to found, PM Ariel Sharon submits resignation, starts 'National Responsibility. Sharon said today he left his Likud party because he didn't want to waste time with political wrangling or squander the opportunities created by the Gaza pullout, HAARETZ reported. However, Sharon ruled out unilateral withdrawals in the West Bank, and said he remains committed to the internationally-backed road map plan which calls for a negotiated peace deal culminating in a Palestinian state.
Sharon said his decision to leave was fraught with risk. He described his new party as "liberal" and said it would give Israel new hope for peace. Sharon said life in the Likud has become "insufferable." He said he first started seriously thinking about leaving the party after Likud hardlines thwarted his effort earlier this month to appoint two new Cabinet ministers. "The Likud in its present configuration cannot lead the nation to its goals, I founded the Likud to give hope to Israel. Unfortunately, this is no longer there. If I had stayed, I could have won the primaries and led the Likud to victory in the election. Staying in the Likud woud have meant wasting time with politics instead of working for the good of the nation. I prefer the good of the nation over comfort and ease," he said. The Gaza pullout, which was bitterly opposed by Likud hardliners, created a "historic opportunity, "I will not allow anyone to squander it," he added.
Likud Secretariat chair Minister Yisrael Katz on Monday directed the issuance of letters ordering members loyal to Sharon and his newly-formed party to distance themselves from the Likud. Right-wing lawmaker Effi Eitam (National Zionist Party) condemned Sharon's decision to quit the Likud and establish a new centrist party, telling Israel Radio that Sharon "is leaving the Likud to return Israel to the 1967 borders." "Likud is today paying the price for betraying the nation," said Eitam, referring to the disengagement from Gaza, which led to his resignation from Sharon's coalition government and his departure from the National Religious Party.
In comments aired on Israel Radio, Yossi Beilin called Sharon's resignation "a big victory for supporters of sharing the land. This is a real opportunity for a coalition headed by the peace camp, including former Likud members who understood that for 38 years they have deceived the nation and themselves." But the Likud "rebels" - whose anti-disengagement and subsequent anti-Sharon stance are said to have contributed to the prime minister's departure - downplayed the significance of his decision to leave the party which he founded.
Opposition leader Yosef Lapid of Shinui said the prime minister had resigned for "personal reasons," and swore that Sharon "would not help the intermediate position in the struggle against religious coercion and the fight against corruption." Shas chairman Eli Yishai called Sharon's resignation "proof that a party that disengaged from the nation, and brought about a economic, social and religious crisis, would declare itself bankrupt.
Knesset votes to disperse
The Knesset's move to disperse itself began with flying colors early Monday evening as eight different preliminary motions to disperse the body were passed with votes ranging from 83 to 87, with little to no opposition. Hours after sending shockwaves across the political spectrum with his decision to quit the Likud and form a new centrist party, Sharon faced his first obstacle of the new political era. Sharon, asked Katsav to disperse the Knesset, received a blow on Monday afternoon after Likud faction chairman, MK Gideon Sa'ar, announced that he had managed to gather the minimum of 61 MKs required by law to gather the plenum to vote on the Knesset dispersal bills on Monday rather than on Wednesday as previously scheduled. The plenum will gather at 4:00 p.m.
Labor Chairman Amir Peretz said that the Knesset should be given the opportunity to dissolve itself without Katsav's interference. Peretz noted, however, that such legislation would hamper the government's ability to function, as it would include only a handful of ministers, he would enable Sharon to appoint ministers "as long as Sharon doesn't take advantage of the situation and turns the government into his campaign headquarters." If the Knesset dissolves itself, a prime minister cannot reshuffle his cabinet. In that case, the government would be left with only six ministers until the elections, as Labor ministers would quit and so too would Likud ministers who oppose Sharon.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin called on Katsav not to interfere in the Knesset's work by enabling it to disband itself. If the Knesset indeed dissolves the government, the elections would most likely be held on March 28, 2006. Sharon would rather have the elections sooner than later, on March 6th, since he is well aware of the fact that centrist parties, as the one he is about to form, tend to start strong in the polls but then weaken as time passes. That means that Ehud Olmert, whose current titles include vice prime minister, finance minister, minister of industry, trade and labor, and the minister in charge of the Israel Lands Administration, could soon gain more portfolios. Asked whether he was interested in becoming interior minister, minister of housing and construction and national infrastructures minister, Olmert joked that if the environment ministry were included he would "consider it."
11 Israelis hurt in North
A day of fighting in the North: Eleven Israeli soldiers and civilians were hurt in one of the most ferocious Hizbullah offensives on the northern border since the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, YNET erported. Two soldiers sustained serious wounds in the attack, but their condition improved later in the evening.
Meanwhile, at least five terrorists were killed in gunfights with IDF troops. The offensive began around 3 p.m. today with a heavy barrage of mortar shells and Katyusha rockets directed at Mount Dov army posts and residential communities in the area. Following the strike, northern Israel residents were instructed to take cover in bomb shelters for the first time since Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. IDF Northern Command officials estimate the heavy rocket fire was intended to distract army forces while a Hizbullah terror cell infiltrated Israel using all-terrain vehicles with the intension of abducting soldiers. Hizbullah members opened fire in all directions in an attempt to create mayhem and kidnap a soldier from an IDF base located in the village of Rajar. At least four terrorists were killed in the ensuing shootout. An hour after the incident, other terrorists approached an IDF post in the Mount Dov area and opened fire at soldiers. At least one terrorist was killed in that incident.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz summoned top IDF officials to his Tel Aviv office to evaluate the situation along the northern border. Mofaz blamed Syria and Iran for Hizbullah's actions in a press conference held before the meeting. The defense minister addressed residents of the north: "We are with you in this moment and we will do all for your safety. Iranian and Syrian interests are behind this fiery day. Both countries are trying to escalate the situation along the northern border to deviate the spotlight from Syria, which is under intense pressure, to Israel."The IDF is preparing a list of possible responses to Hizbullah's attack, Ynet has learnt. Exchanges of fire along the border continued throughout the evening, with a mortar shell hitting a house in the town of Metula. No injuries were reported, but the homeowner told Ynet the attack "took me back to the days before the withdrawal (from Lebanon.)"
State to fund private immigration groups
For the first time in its history, Israel will support private organizations that encourage immigration. The cabinet decided yesterday to give organizations that meet certain criteria, financial aid of up to $1,000 per immigrant.The retroactive grants, starting with immigration for 2005, would benefit organizations that offer immigrants financial assistance upon their move to Israel. The decision sets a precedent; until now, the Jewish Agency had sole responsibility for encouraging immigration. The Jewish Agency reacted coolly yesterday to the cabinet decision. The organization's spokesman said yesterday "it is a good thing in and of itself when the government decides to invest in encouraging immigration."The only organization that meets the criteria is the Jewish-American organization "Nefesh b'Nefesh," which seeks to encourage emigration from North America. This angers those involved in encouraging immigration from France, who say it discriminates against French Jews. Haaretz has learned the initiative also engenders opposition at the Finance Ministry.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon initiated the precedent-setting decision, which was drafted by Prime Minister's Office director general Ilan Cohen. Sharon emphasized yesterday in his comments that he attaches "tremendous importance" to encouraging immigration. "This to me is the most important thing there is, and everyone must be on board with this mission," he told his ministers. "I propose that each of you consider encouraging immigration a central issue during your travels abroad."The decision stipulates that the private organizations must meet certain conditions for financial support. They must have been operating for at least a year before the decision was made in the country where they function and offer services on an egalitarian basis to all.
Longest of Dead Sea scrolls to visit U.S.
The longest of the Dead Sea Scrolls is scheduled to go on display in a Cleveland museum next year in its first appearance in the United States. A traveling exhibition featuring the Temple Scroll, which measures 28 feet, will make its first stop at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in suburban Cleveland, the Plain Dealer newspaper reported on Shabbat. The ancient manuscript dates back to the time of Jesus. The exhibition, which runs from March through August, also includes other artifacts from the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, including the burial box of Caiaphas the High Priest who, according to the New Testament, delivered Jesus to the Romans for execution. Officials at the Maltz Museum said the exhibition will later travel to two other North American museums, which have not been announced.
The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a desert cave in 1947. From 1947-56, scrolls were found in 11 caves dotting the hills above the Qumran area of the West Bank - 800 documents in all, written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. The scrolls contain Old Testament texts, psalms, commentaries and other works, some of them written in code. Many scholars believe that the scrolls were written at Qumran by Essenes, a breakaway Jewish sect.
Israel - world's leading technological state
New international report reveals Israel has become country with most promising economic future. According to the research, Israel, which has already achieved a worldwide reputation of a high-tech superpower, has become the leading country in the areas of science and technology. The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently conducted a "State intellectual capital balance" survey in order to examine Israel's global ranking among developed countries. Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth obtained the document, which reveals that the number of engineers in Israel is the highest in the world: 135 engineers for every 10,000 workers. The United States is ranked second with only 70 engineers, followed by Japan (65), Holland (53) and Switzerland (38). Israel is also ranked first in the world in the number of scientists and technicians, with 140 for every 10,000 workers. The U.S. is way behind with 83 scientists and technicians, followed by Japan (80), Germany (60) and Switzerland (55).
The study also reveals that Israel provides a supporting business environment and a developed banking and financial infrastructure, and encourages investment in technological initiatives. According to the same study, Israel also leads the national expenditure on research and development in relation to its national product. The Industry Ministry's chief scientist, Dr. Eli Ofer, was satisfied with the findings and explained how Israel became a technological super power. "If not for the Russian immigration, the number of engineers in Israel would be smaller. A decade ago we absorbed a million people, a huge percentage of whom had academic-technological education," he said. According to Elisha Yanai, chairman of the Association of electronics, Israel has become a silicon valley. "We should not be compared to all of the U.S., but to certain high-tech areas, such as California's Silicon Valley, Boston's high-tech area and Texas' high-tech area. Such a comparison, which is more natural to us, ranks Israel at the third absolute spot, and not just at the relative spot of engineers and technological manpower," he said.
[Today's Israel Line was prepared by Hili Sharon at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.]